Several Roads Named Priority for Resurfacing Project

Borough officials discussed which roads are considered priority for resurfacing as part of the borough’s ongoing road improvement project during the council meeting Tuesday night.

The borough has $300,000 allocated towards road improvements but has more than $1 million worth of roads in town that are showing signs of need, Borough Engineer Ken Jobs reported.

Jobs explained that roads deemed in need of improvement are added to the Department of Public Works’ growing list. Roads are then selected based on the condition of the roads and the amount of funds the borough has to put towards the project.

The roads considered to be priority are Division, Field, Third, Kipp and two sections of Passaic Avenue.  Councilman Justin DiPisa asked Jobs what the criteria is for determining which roads are deemed priority.

Jobs explained that these particular roads have been on the list for five years and based on the condition of their surfaces they must be done now while they still can.  Waiting too long can prevent a road from being resurfaced in which case the entire road will need to ripped up and rebuilt.

He explained that blacktop surface oxidizes from several factors such as extreme cold, the freezing and thawing process and erosion from salting during snow precipitation. One will notice that when roads begin to show a whitish appearance it is in need of resurfacing, he explained.

The road improvement project has been somewhat on hold for a few years and they are trying to catch up by resurfacing as many roads as costs allow in order to prevent them from needing to be rebuilt completely.

Resident Salvatore  Altimore asked why Walter Avenue isn’t included in this project stating that the road has “volcanoes not holes.”  Jobs explained that Walter Avenue has been on the list since 2009 and the roads which have been on the list longer must take priority.

Bill Spindler, superintendent of the DPW stated that the department has been conducting extensive pothole repair around town and will send the crew out to Walter Avenue to repair the holes with the hot asphalt mix.